Christian Eriksen hit a double as Spurs kept alive their Champions League hopes with a 3-2 win over Southampton after trailing 2-0 early in the first period at White Hart Lane.

Tim Sherwood's side are up to fifth spot in the Premier League standings, six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played a game more, but they were made to do it the hard way having gifted the visiting side two goals inside the opening 28 minutes.

Jay Rodriguez slotted home the opener for the visitors after Kyle Naughton misjudged a clearance by visiting goalkeeper Artur Boruc as the ball bounced over his head enabling the England international to score with ease.

Naughton was again at fault as Rickie Lambert played in Adam Lallana for the second goal on 28 minutes before a Nathaniel Clyne error enabled Eriksen to score from close range on 31 minutes.

The poor standard of defending continued when Dejan Lovren was somehow brushed off the ball by Roberto Soldado, who slid the ball across goal for Erkisen to net.

Spurs completed a rousing recovery when substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson drove the ball beyond Boruc from 20 yards after being played in by Eriksen a minute into four added on.

KEY MOMENTS

19' - RODRIGUEZ POUNCES: Rodriguez scores the opening goal. Awful mistake by Naughton. He missed the bounce of the ball from Boruc's long punt down the park. And the Saints man makes him pay by slotting beyond Lloris.

28' - LALLANA ADDS THE SECOND: Another error by Naughton in failing to clear. Lambert controls the ball before sliding the pass into the path of Lallana to score his side's second goal.

31' - CLYNE BLUNDER: Another error. This time by Clyne in failing to clear. Ball breaks to Eriksen, who slams the loose ball into the net from five yards. Spurs back to 2-1 behind.

46' - ERIKSEN ADDS SECOND TO LEVEL: Soldado brushes Lovren off the ball before sliding the pass across the face of goal for Eriksen to net. 2-2. Spurs back on level terms.

90+1' - SPURS WINNER: Sigurdsson smashes the shot low and hard into the net from the Eriksen lay-off. Fine finish from 20 yards. A 3-2 lead for Spurs late in this match.

Christian Eriksen (Tottenham): The Danish midfielder was asked afterwards how Spurs managed to win. "Because we scored three goals," was his response without a flicker of a smile. But those three goals only came about because of his contribution. Outstanding stuff from Eriksen as he led Tottenham's recovery.

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KEY STATS

With Sigurdsson’s goal, Spurs equalled Newcastle on the most injury time winners this Premier League season (2).

Gylfi Sigurdsson has now equalled the scoring tally he had at Swansea for Spurs, although it has taken him 34 more matches (52 vs. 18).

Tim Sherwood has now won nine Premier League matches with Spurs, one more than Andre Villas-Boas managed this season, with Sherwood having been in charge for one game fewer (15 to 16).

The reverse fixture ended with the same scoreline, with Spurs going behind in the first half, before getting two in the second half to win it.

Infostrada

TALKING POINT: Can Spurs catch Arsenal in the race for fourth and the Champions League? The 1-0 defeat by Arsenal a week ago seemed to have finished off Spurs in the race for the top four, but results this weekend leaves matters well and truly open. Arsenal remain favourites, but it depends on how they recover from the 6-0 mauling by Chelsea. Spurs must try to keep winning to keep the pressure on. Like they did here.